Nevada Online Poker

Editor’s choice – Best legal online poker site in Nevada 2016

WSOP.com – WSOP is the largest legal online poker site in Nevada. New players will receive $10 free, no deposit required, plus 100% up to $400 dollars on your first deposit and daily $100 dollar freerolls.

It all started with regulations drafted by the Nevada Gaming Commission on Dec. 22, 2011. An opinion letter written by the Department of Justice became public the following day stating that online poker did not violate the Wire Act. The DOJ opinion was written three months earlier in response to a state lottery inquiry.

The Nevada Legislature took up the online poker issue in February 2013. It confirmed the regulations drafted by gaming regulators. Nevada lawmakers also included language that permits the governor to enter into liquidity sharing agreements with other states. Nevada has since entered into such an agreement with Delaware, however it has not done so with New Jersey.

Ultimate Poker became the first fully legal poker site in the US on April 30, 2013. There was no previous announcement leading up to the launch. The news hit the mainstream and Ultimate Poker executives took to the airwaves to help promote the product.

Station Casinos was the group behind Ultimate Poker. The company is the largest locals casino owner in Las Vegas.

The site was heavily promoted at the casinos owned by Station and through direct mailers to players registered with the Boarding Pass players club. Ultimate Poker players could deposit and withdraw from any cashier cage operated by Station Casinos.

Ultimate Poker drew several hundred players from its first day. The first major Sunday tournaments hit its cap of 200 entrants and produced a $20,000 prize pool. Legal online poker was alive once again in the US.

WSOP.com launches and takes over Nevada market

The fortunes of Ultimate Poker started to decline when WSOP.com launched on Sept. 17, 2013. It only took about six weeks for WSOP.com to overtake Ultimate Poker for the number one spot in terms of online poker traffic in Nevada.

WSOP.com Nevada was heavily promoted during the summer World Series of Poker. This helped it draw players away from Ultimate Poker.

The software used by WSOP.com was far superior to the one used by Ultimate Poker. This included the introduction of Omaha, Omaha High/Low, Seven Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud High/Low. Ultimate Poker only offered Texas Hold’em at the time.

Real Gaming enters Nevada

Real Gaming became the third online poker room in Nevada. It is backed by South Point Casino, a locals casino on Las Vegas Boulevard south of the Strip. The site only offers No Limit Texas Hold’em cash games and one-table tournaments.

Ultimate Poker ceases operations

The competition proved to be no match for Ultimate Poker. The site struggled with inferior software and an inability to improve it in a timely manner.

Ultimate Poker dealt its last hand of online poker in Nevada on Nov. 17, 2014. It previously folded its New Jersey operations on Oct. 5, 2014, citing the bankruptcy of its business partner Trump Taj Mahal as the reason. Ultimate Gaming, its parent company, has since ceased operations.

WSOP.com now controls more than 99 percent of the Nevada online poker market. Real Gaming struggles to draw a single full table and is completely dark most hours of the day.

Interstate online poker compact

Nevada and Delaware entered into a poker liquidity sharing agreement.

It was signed by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and Delaware Governor Jack Markell on February 25, 2014. The agreement was originally set to go live during the summer of 2014.

Technical difficulties prevented that from happening. It launched on March 24, 2015. It did little to affect Nevada’s poker action, but helped Delaware tremendously.

888 provides WSOP.com’s platform and hosts the only poker network in Delaware. There are three skins on the Delaware poker network: Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway. All are racinos that operate video lottery casinos in the state.

WSOP.com Nevada online poker details

WSOP.com is the Nevada online poker leader. It is tied to the World Series of Poker. WSOP.com offers Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha High/Low, Seven Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud High/Low.

New players receive a 100% up to $400 first deposit bonus. A similar reload bonus is offered every month.

All WSOP.com deposit bonuses clear at a rate of $10 for every $50 in rake and tournament fees paid.

The Action Club is WSOP.com’s VIP program. Players earn rakeback between 8 and 35 percent and freeroll entries based on the amount of monthly rake paid.

Rakeback may be cashed out through the software in amounts of $10 or more. Other promotions include World Series of Poker satellites and monthly sit and go leaderboards.

WSOP.com Nevada online poker bracelet event

WSOP.com hosted the first World Series of Poker online bracelet event on July 2, 2015. It was a $1,000 entry. The tournament played down to two players on the first day. The final two opponents met at Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to finish the event live two days later.

Satellites and super satellites to many World Series of Poker events are spread at WSOP.com during the spring and summer. A handful of these satellites are freerolls. Others require a buy-in in amounts as little as $1.

Nevada live poker rooms

Nevada is the home to live poker in the US. Las Vegas is where most of the action occurs.

Venetian is the largest poker room in Las Vegas. It offers 59 tables. That number goes up during its Deep Stack Extravaganza tournament series.

Bellagio is the second largest Las Vegas poker room. It spreads 37 tables. Other major Las Vegas Strip poker rooms include Wynn, Aria, and Caesars Palace.

There are several popular poker rooms in Las Vegas located off the Strip. The Orleans is the largest. It is the home of Omaha High/Low and Fixed Limit Hold’em in Las Vegas. The Orleans draws an equal number of locals and tourists.

Red Rock is the second largest locals poker room. It is located in the far west end of the Las Vegas Valley in the suburb of Summerlin. Green Valley Ranch is another active poker room in the locals market. It is located in the southeast part of town near Henderson.

Visiting Las Vegas

There are numerous other activities in the area if you need a break from poker. Rio has a zip line that runs between two hotel towers. The Palms offers a movie theater. Gold Coast has a bowling alley. All are within walking distance.

Those with a car may want to explore Las Vegas and the surrounding area. Red Rock is a national park just west of the Las Vegas Valley. Valley of Fire is about an hour north. Hoover Dam is about an hour east. All are great outdoor activities.

Those looking to party can take a cab for less than $10 to the Las Vegas Strip. Top nightclubs can be found at Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Aria, Wynn, Encore, Venetian, and Caesars Palace.

Those that enjoy the old school feel will want to take a trip downtown. It will cost about $25 each way from Rio. Make sure to get in the cab at the convention center and tell the driver to take Industrial (part of which has been rechristened as Sammy Davis Jr. Drive) to keep from getting long-hauled on the highway.

Downtown Las Vegas is where legalized gambling started. It offers much better odds for those looking to gamble. The best blackjack in Las Vegas may be found at El Cortez.

Great video poker is spread at numerous casinos. Craps players will want to hit the 20 times odds spread at Main Street Station. In addition to better gambling, the minimum table game bet is often just $5 at downtown casinos.

While downtown, you may want to check out Fremont East. This is a block that has been revitalized in recent years between Las Vegas Blvd. and El Cortez. It includes a strip of bars and clubs.

Where to stay for the World Series of Poker

Finding a great place to stay can be tough. Rio typically offers competitive rates.

Make sure to check out Gold Coast. It is located directly across the street from Rio and will likely be cheaper. The Orleans is just two blocks away, although it is a little too far to walk.

If you have a car, you may want to check out some of the locals casinos owned by Station. Staying downtown is another option.

Some players choose to stay at an extended stay to save some money. These are always hit and miss. Avoid the area along Tropicana the next exit down the highway from Rio. Most other neighborhoods with extended stay hotels will be in more desirable areas.

NV online poker FAQ

What Nevada regulated poker rooms are live?

WSOP.com and Real Gaming are the only two regulated Nevada online poker rooms live as of Sept. 8, 2016.

What happened to Ultimate Poker?

Ultimate Poker was the first online poker site in Nevada. The company was not successful. It ceased operations on Nov. 17, 2014. Players were paid in full.

Do you have to be a Nevada resident to play online poker?

No, anyone that is located within Nevada at the time of play is accepted at regulated online poker rooms.

How does a poker room know a player is within Nevada?

Online poker rooms use three location devices to determine whether a player is within Nevada at the time of login.

One is the player’s IP address. This locates the point where a player’s internet connection is located. Cell phone triangulation is also used to determine a player’s location. The cell phone is pinged by multiple towers and its approximate location determines whether the player may sit at real money tables.

Is Nevada location verification technology precise?

No, this is why players located within one mile of the state line may not play. This is the margin of error for cell phone triangulation and other methods. This ensures that no players are able to play outside the state.

What cities are located within one mile of the Nevada state line?

Players in Primm, Mesquite, Laughlin, Jackpot, West Wendover and Stateline may not be able to play online poker in Nevada due to being within one mile of the state line.

Real Gaming accepts cash deposits at its South Point cage, PayNearMe, check by mail and bank wire.

How do you withdrawal from a Nevada online poker room?

WSOP.com pays withdrawals by electronic checks, cash at five Caesars casinos in Las Vegas and check by mail. Real Gaming mails a check that may be cashed at South Point or deposited as normal.

How old do you have to be to play online poker in Nevada?

Nevada requires all online poker players to be 21 years of age or older. This is the same age required to gamble in brick and mortar casinos.

Do Nevada online poker rooms share player pools with any other state or country?

Nevada online poker is only offered to players located in the state. 888 and WSOP networked player pools between Delaware and Nevada in March 2015.

How do I open an account?

Accounts must be created online. The information provided is run through a database to confirm the identity of the player.

Why does my state not offer regulated online poker?

Most states require legislative action to expand gambling. This includes online poker. It will likely require a bill being passed by both state houses and a signature from the governor for a state to regulate online poker.

When did online poker launch in Nevada?

Online poker in Nevada launched on April 30, 2013. This was the date Ultimate Poker went live. WSOP.com launched on Sept. 19, 2013. Real Gaming opened in February 2014.